The Mole 2: Anime Edition

Episode Five

Week Four Mole Poll: Ruki- 21%, Kasumi, Mitsune, Motoko- 16% (tie)

Contestants
Akane- Tomboy: "Ranma ½"
Jenrya- Puppy Watcher: "Digimon Tamers"
Kasumi- Romantic Tension: "Pocket Monsters"
Keitaro- Resident Manager: "Love Hina"
Kenji- Research Assistant: "Pocket Monsters"
Miaka- Student/Priestess: "Fushigi Yuugi"
Mitsune- Slacker: "Love Hina"
Motoko- Kendo Girl: "Love Hina"
Ranma- Freak of Nature: "Ranma ½"
Ruki- Card Shark: "Digimon Tamers"
Takato- Goggle Boy: "Digimon Tamers"
Takeshi- Hugh Hefner-Wannabe: "Pocket Monsters"
Tamahome- Bishonen: "Fushigi Yuugi"
Washu- Genius: "Tenchi Muyo"

Episode Five
(Mike is standing outside the hotel in Vicenza, Italy.)
Mike: Alliances are fun. They add an extra element to the game, and have become essential to any players who need to make up for their own weaknesses. But alliances are far from perfect. In a game where anyone could be the Mole, trust is difficult to come by already. But if you were to cost your alliance partner an exemption, it creates tension. If you convince your alliance partner that somebody could be the Mole, despite knowing that they aren’t, it creates suspicion. If you don’t help your alliance partner make up for flaws, it creates trouble. Kenji, Ruki, and Tamahome are all guilty of the above. But even if one of them is the Mole, it still leaves two of them… that aren’t.

Jenrya: I think Ruki deliberately tried to get me executed. She knew Miaka was not the Mole. She tried to set me up into thinking she was, and she even went to the trouble of writing that stuff in her journal. I’m trying to keep my head here, I’m still serious about this game, and I have to look at everything objectively to figure out what to do next. But deep down… I’m pissed.

Ruki: I had looked at Miaka before. But after watching her for awhile, I realized that it couldn’t be her. Did I try to set up Jenrya? If that’s what you call it, yes. If he insists on trusting me, if he insists that we have to work together to succeed, then he deserved to be executed. You don’t trust people. You don’t work together. At the very least… it was a wake-up call.

Tamahome: Obviously I’m sad Miaka’s gone, but I can’t think of anything more I could have done to help her. They say it’s everybody for themselves, and that’s how I have to play if I’m going to win. And while it is sad to see Miaka get executed, I do feel like it’s a load off my shoulders. I knew it was coming, and now that it’s done with, I think I can move on.

Day Ten
(Jenrya is in a meditative position when Tamahome enters the room.)
Tamahome: Uh… am I bothering you?

(Jenrya exhales.)
Jenrya: No… just trying to concentrate. Have you ever thought you could trust somebody, only to have that person stab you in the back?

Tamahome: Yeah.

Jenrya: What did you do?

Tamahome: Uh… I chased him through the streets of the city until he fell into a river.

(Jenrya opens his eyes and sits up.)

Jenrya: (dry) That’s not very encouraging.

Tamahome: It’s okay… he got out of it alive. Had amnesia… but lived. He ended up okay. He’s… a survivor… and uh, a mole… (thoughtfully) and a big brother…

(Tamahome shakes the thought out of his head.)

Tamahome: Anyway… what happened?

Jenrya: Oh… never mind. Hey, did you ever think Miaka was the Mole?

Tamahome: Me? No.

Jenrya: Seriously?

Tamahome: First chance I could after we got started, I looked her right in the eyes and asked whether she was the Mole. The way she said it, and the look of her eyes… I could tell she wasn’t.

Jenrya: That’s it? That’s all you did and you knew?

(Jenrya walks up to Tamahome, grabs a chair, stands up on it, and looks Tamahome in the eyes.)

Jenrya: I am not the Mole.

(Jenrya steps down. Tamahome smiles.)

Jenrya: I don’t think that works very well.

Tamahome: It’s different with Miaka.

Jenrya: Oh. Because Ruki either suspected her once and gave up on her, or she pretended to suspect her to throw me off. Either way, I can’t believe what she did.

Tamahome: Well, I think she definitely suspected Miaka, at least at one point. I’ve been watching Ruki and I seriously think she either suspected one of us, or she was trying to break us up for some reason.

Jenrya: (dismissive) Oh, how old’s Miaka? Fifteen?

(Tamahome nods)

Jenrya: She probably doesn’t like the idea of you two together. It probably has something to do with her mother. She has… issues.

Tamahome: Oh. But you never know.

Jenrya: I guess she has done a lot of suspicious stuff. I should be watching her instead of defending her. If I’m going to stay alive in this game, I’m going to have to seriously re-assess my strategy.

Tamahome: Guess so.

Jenrya: I guess I am on my own. I’m smart enough not to trust Ruki now. I’m smart enough not to trust Kenji. I’m smart enough not to trust you…

(Tamahome nods.)

Jenrya: This is going to be tough.

Tamahome: Well, good luck, gotta run!

(Tamahome walks out.)

(In the hall, Kasumi has just left her room, and walks over to knock on Kenji and Takeshi’s door. Tamahome strolls past her, and waits for her to go in.)

Kasumi: What are you doing?

Tamahome: Who? Me? Just strolling the halls, looking for anything Mole-ish… just stuff!

Kasumi: You want Mol-ish, look in the mirror.

(Tamahome laughs. Kasumi knocks on the door again.)

Kasumi: Takeshi!!

(Kenji opens the door.)

Kenji: Takeshi’s not in right now, you've reached his voice mail. Can I take a message?

Kasumi: I’m still mad at you, so I wouldn’t be joking.

Kenji: Why are you mad at me?

Kasumi: Why shouldn’t I be mad at you!?

Kenji: Oh, get in here before somebody hears you.

(Kasumi enters. As soon as she goes in, Tamahome quickly enters Akane’s room.)

Kenji: Look, this is an individual game, remember? I had an opportunity and I chose to take it. It was a spontaneous reaction. I was putting my own exemption at risk too. Calculated risk, Kasumi, it’s all part of the game.

Kasumi: (sadly) I guess. Whatever.

Kenji: What’s wrong?

Kasumi: I don’t know. I just… don’t know why I should believe you.

(Kenji seems solemn and serious.)

Kenji: Because it’s in your best interest.

Kasumi: Is it? I mean, I know you. You’re manipulative, you’re conniving… I feel like I’ve made a deal with the devil.

Kenji: Even if you did, there’s no reason for me to go back on that. I’m not the smartest player in the game. I’m not even the most conniving. I might not even want this as much as some of the others. Right now… I wouldn’t stab you in the back, because I have no reason to. I think you’re helping me out. Besides, how could I? This isn’t a game where I can control you, or vote you off. It’s all about knowing who the Mole is, and picking the right answers. And I can’t do that for you. If you’re right, you stay in, if you aren’t, you get executed. I can’t control that. Ultimately the only person in charge of you is you. And as long as I think you’re helping me, I’ll try to keep you here.

Kasumi: Then what?

Kenji: If I do decide that you need to go… then it’s up to you to fight to stay alive. But for now… I want you here. Okay?

Kasumi: I guess so.

(Kasumi looks up at Kenji.)

Kasumi: Um, where is Takeshi anyway?

Kenji: Uh….

(Takeshi is sitting on a bed, looking a bit unsure of himself. Pan around to show that he is in Mitsune and Motoko’s room. Mitsune is on the other bed, smiling.)

Mitsune: You do know that you owe me one, right?

Takeshi: Excuse me?

Mitsune: I didn’t just give you that exemption because of your eyes, Takeshi. I did something for you, now you can help me.

Takeshi: How so?

Mitsune: Simple- I want you to join the Hinata coalition with me and Motoko.

Takeshi: Oh, uh… well… I’m already kinda in a coalition.

Mitsune: With who? Kenji?

Takeshi: Yeah.

Mitsune: Then I’m helping you! Kenji’s a sneak. A coalition with him is an execution waiting to happen.

Takeshi: What, you think he’s the Mole?

Mitsune: Darn tootin! And you’d best be hauling butt and playing for the good guys if you want to keep playing at all.

Takeshi: I suppose he is a little conniving… but that doesn’t automatically mean he’s the Mole. You have to look at everybody. It could be Akane, it could be Ruki, it could be you, it could be me…

Mitsune: That’s what coalitions are for. Get the dirt on everybody so you know who it is.

Takeshi: I guess. So I suppose you want me to use my friendship with Kenji to get you the dirt?

Mitsune: Correct!

Takeshi: I dunno… I don’t feel right doing that to Kenji. I mean we’re not best friends or anything, but as third wheels to Satoshi and Kasumi, we have a sense of unity and respect for each other…

(Mitsune sighs, grabs Takeshi’s arm, and plants his hand on her left breast. Takeshi just about melts.)

Takeshi: Say your prayers sketcher boy!!

(Motoko enters the room and sees the sight. She becomes furious and pulls out ‘da stick.)

Motoko: Special technique- Zanganken!!!

(The wind created from Motoko’s kendo slice sends Takeshi flying through the outside window and out of sight. Mitsune looks distraught and goes up to Motoko.)

Mitsune: It was terrible… I just wanted to form a coalition with him and he just… went after my body.

Motoko: That… is the last straw.

(Mitsune perks up all of a sudden.)

Mitsune: Naw… on the plus side I formed a coalition with Takeshi!!

Motoko: That’s… a plus?

Mitsune: You bet!

(Mitsune flashes a "V for victory" sign at the camera.)

Takeshi: Kenji’s trying to convince me that Kitsune is the Mole. Kitsune is trying to convince me that Kenji is the Mole. Personally- I still think it’s Tamahome! But there’s no harm in playing both sides of the field, right? If I watch my back, I can play both of them to my advantage.

Motoko: This is not going to work. Takeshi is pure evil, and any coalition with him is asking for trouble.

(A lounge by the lobby of the hotel. The layout of this lounge is very important to take note of. In the back left corner of the room is a TV cabinet, with a 19-inch screen TV inside, along with a few video tapes. In front of the TV cabinet, facing away from the cabinet, is a white couch. In between the white couch and the wall is a circular end-table, with a cloth over it, and a lamp with a narrow base. Along the back wall, at the center of the room, is a burgundy-colored couch. Also along the back wall, on the right side, is a square end-table, with a wide-based lamp and a few coasters. Along the right side of the wall is a tan-colored sofa. The burgundy coach and the tan sofa are both facing a coffee table, which rests between it. On it are a few books. Towards the front are two black living room chairs. The one on the left is a recliner, the one on the right is not. Finally, behind the non-reclining chair, is a floor lamp. The ten players enter and sit in the following places: Kenji, Kasumi, and Motoko sit on the white couch. Akane, Takeshi, and Washu sit on the burgundy couch. Jenrya and Tamahome sit on the sofa. Ruki takes the reclining chair, while Mitsune takes the non-reclining chair. Barb passes a green slip of paper and a pen to each of the ten. Hope you took notes, there is a quiz later.)

Barb: I’m sure a few of you are starting to feel the strain that this game can give to a person. So we’ve decided that it would be fair to let a few of you unwind tomorrow. The question of who rests on your shoulders. I’d like you each to write down the names of one man and one woman, not counting yourself, that you think deserve to be spoiled. When you’re done, hand them in.

(Everybody takes a moment to vote, then drops their slip into a jar Barb is holding.)

Barb: Thank you. Please wait here.

Mitsune: What should we do?

Barb: I dunno… take in the room.

(Barb walks away. Ruki uses the recliner and puts her feet up. Mitsune tries it on hers.)

Mitsune: Hey… how come mine doesn’t do that??

(Kenji yawns.)

Kenji: So does anybody know what this is all about?

Kasumi: I would imagine it’s some sort of challenge.

Takeshi: Maybe we have to stay in the same spot for as long as possible.

Kenji: (sarcastic) Oh goody… I hate those.

Akane: We all hate those.

(Washu uses her computer and retrieves some cards from an inter-dimensional vortex.)

Washu: Well, I’m not going to sit around waiting, who’s in for some Old Maid?

Takeshi: I’m in!

Akane: You bet!

Tamahome: What are we playing for?

Jenrya: Hold on…

(Jenrya writes something in his journal, closes it, then joins the game.)

Kenji: I play winner!

(Shot of the group playing cards.)

Barb: (VO) Hopefully, despite the group’s card-playing, they do heed my advice and take in the room, as the more everybody knows about the room, the better they will do for this upcoming challenge.

(After about fifteen minutes, they are still playing cards.)

Takeshi: Who’s dealing next game?

Barb: Sorry Takeshi, no more games. It’s time for… a different game. You have spent fifteen minutes in this room. Hopefully you’ve gotten to know this room well, since you’ll need that knowledge for the next challenge. I need two people who think they know the room the best of anybody.

(Jenrya raises a hand. After some hesitation, Washu raises a hand.)

Barb: Very well. Jenrya, Washu, come with me.

(Jenrya and Washu follow Barb into a nearby room. There is a large screen in the center, and a microphone in front of it.)

Barb: The other eight will have a difficult task ahead of them. In a nearby room, they will have thirty minutes to rearrange all the furniture in that room so that it is laid out exactly like the lounge. Couches, tables, sofas, lamps, and everything in there has its place. The catch is that they will be doing it in a dark room, with very minimal lighting. When the time starts, the screen will show the room through a night-vision lens. Your job will be to guide them as necessary. At the end of thirty minutes, all ten players, including yourself, must be seated in the same place you were before. When you’re done, go through that door and take a right to get to the room. If everything, including yourselves, is in place, 30,000 yen is added to the pot. As soon as you see a picture, the time starts and you may explain the challenge to everybody.

(Barb walks out, summons the rest of the group, and leads them to another room.)
Kenji: (VO) Washu was the one that brought out the cards. Supposedly she knows the most about the room. That’s a bit strange.

Challenge Eight
(The room is lit only by a few red lamps, which do little to improve visibility. In this room, the same furniture is inside, but in a different position. The square end-table is on the back left wall, with the two chairs and the sofa surrounding it. The floor lamp is along the back wall by the recliner. On the right side, the burgundy couch lies along the back wall, with the circular end-table nearby. In front of it is the white couch. In front of that is the coffee table, and in front of that is the TV cabinet. The two lamps, the television, the books, videos, tablecloth, and the coasters are all in different positions as well.)
Barb: Washu and Jenrya will be explaining the challenge to you in a minute. Ja ne!

(Barb shuts the door, leaving eight very confused players. Barb heads back to the control room, where Jenrya and Washu are collectively trying to remember where everything is.)

Barb: Your thirty minutes begin now.

(The screen appears, revealing an overhead shot of the room through night-vision, and the eight players. Jenrya and Washu see how much the furniture is rearranged and turn towards each other.)

Washu: Well… let’s do this.

(Washu grabs the mike.)

Washu: Hello?

(On the screen, the others react, looking around for the source of the voice.)

Jenrya: I don’t think we can hear them.

Washu: Oh great… Hey! Listen up! You have to move the furniture in there to the way it was in the lounge. Do you understand?

(The others continue standing in place, confused.)

Washu: Jenny, how many Moles are there in the game?

Jenrya: Uh… one?

Washu: And how many idiots are there in the game?

Jenrya: Um. Well…

Washu: Eight.

Jenrya: Let’s just, uh… start.

Washu: I guess… let me think what should they move first.

Jenrya: Well, hurry up. We only have half an hour.

(Washu takes the mike again.)

Washu: We have to get those couches out of there first.

(Inside the room, the other eight are still unsure what to do.)

Kasumi: Washu?

Akane: Can she hear us?

Tamahome: Why, do you want to talk about her behind her back?

Mitsune: If she could hear us, she’d have answered by now.

Kenji: I think the couches are over here.

Ruki: (scoffing) Well, what are we waiting for?

(Ruki joins Kenji and helps him pull out the couch in front.)

Jenrya: (VO) Are those couches different colors? Each of them go in a different spot.

Kenji: All right!

Ruki: He can’t hear you, you don’t have to answer.

(Akane approaches.)

Akane: Which couch is that?

Kenji: I think it looks red. If the light’s red, that means the couch is probably white.

Kasumi: That was over on this end!

Takeshi: So the other couch was along the back wall. Motoko! Give me a hand!

(Motoko approaches and quietly does so.)

Washu: (VO) As for the rest of you, there’s other stuff to do. The floor lamp and the chairs need moving.

(The others go to it.)

(Shot of Jenrya pointing something out on the screen to Washu.)
Jenrya: (VO) You know for someone so smart, she tends to act a bit childish, but Washu can really put a game face on. When she wants to, she can be all business.

(Montage of scenes as the group works together pretty well. The couches, chairs, and sofas are in place. Caption: "20:00 Remaining")
Barb: (VO) Halfway through, things are starting to look in place… if not for a slight problem…

Kenji: Um… there was a stand next to this couch.

Takeshi: Isn’t it back in that corner?

Akane: Is that the right one? I can’t see.

(Kenji walks up and starts feeling around. Takeshi and Mitsune are pushing the TV cabinet towards that corner.)

Kenji: Hold on… we have to move this stand somewhere.

Mitsune: Aw, just move it over, we know where this cabinet goes.

(Kenji moves the square end-table away so Takeshi and Mitsune can push the cabinet into place.)
Jenrya: (VO) Kenji, don’t run away with that, the TV’s on that table. That has to go into the cabinet.

Kenji: Right…

(Takeshi steps on something and kicks it away.)

Mitsune: What was that?

Takeshi: I don’t think it was anything important.

(They put the cabinet into position.)

Takeshi: Ready for the TV!

(Kenji puts the TV in place.)

Mitsune: All right… we have crap for light, but we have the TV set up!

Akane: I found some videos on the coffee table.

Kenji: Where do they go?

Mitsune: My guess would be in the cabinet.

Takeshi: You sure? They want everything exact.

Kenji: Yeah… let’s see if Jenrya has anything to say.

(Takeshi waves the videos in the air to get the attention of the guides. In that room, Jenrya and Washu are passively observing.)

Washu: What’s Takeshi doing?

Jenrya: Are those videos?

Washu: Yeah. Were they in the cabinet?

Jenrya: I don’t know. It makes sense.

Washu: Common sense hasn’t been out too much in this game.

Jenrya: Let them deal with that then.

Washu: Fine.

(On the screen, Takeshi puts the videos into the cabinet. Meanwhile, Kasumi has picked up the narrow-based lamp from the coffee table and set it on the circular end-table. Ruki picks up the tablecloth that was under it. Washu approaches the mike.)

Washu: That tablecloth wasn’t on the coffee table. I think it was on one of the end-tables.

(In the dark room, Ruki addresses the group.)

Ruki: Anybody know where this tablecloth goes?

Kenji: It was on the stand next to where I was sitting.

(Tamahome sits down on a chair and pushes up the recliner.)

Motoko: Hey- this isn’t time to rest.

(Tamahome sits up quickly.)

Tamahome: Sorry.

(Inside, Washu shakes her head.)

Washu: Hey, Jenny, which chair was the recliner?

Jenrya: Wasn’t it the one Ruki was on?

Washu: That’s what I thought. Both Motoko and Tamahome completely missed that.

(Washu takes the mike while Jenrya pulls out his journal and starts writing in it.)

Washu: Make sure the reclining chair is in the right spot.

(Washu looks at Jenrya.)

Washu: What are you doing?

Jenrya: Getting this down. Look at them- is it me or are they all doing suspicious stuff?

Washu: Yeah, you got a point there. Can you see anything else that needs to be fixed?

Jenrya: Nope… we look good.

Washu: Great!

(Washu sits back in her chair.)

Washu: We can watch them go at it then!

(Shot of Ruki trying to fit the tablecloth on the square end-table.)
Jenrya: (VO) So far, I’m trying to keep track of everybody’s mistakes. So far, everybody has done at least one thing wrong, that we were forced to correct. It makes things really tough to sort through. It’s a good thing I’m looking at everything from on high.

(Ruki addresses the issue of the tablecloth. Caption: "5:00 Remaining")

Ruki: This tablecloth doesn’t want to go on this table.

(Kasumi walks over with the narrow-based lamp and sets it down nearby.)

Kasumi: What was that?

Ruki: I think this is the wrong table.

Kasumi: You sure? Kenji!

Kenji: Yeah?

Kasumi: What shape was the end-table next to you?

Kenji: I think it was round!

Ruki: This one’s square.

Kenji: Does that mean we have to change it?

Kasumi: Don’t you think we should?

Tamahome: What’s going on?

Kenji: We have to switch end-table.

Tamahome: Why?

Kasumi: Kenji says he sat next to a round one. This one’s square.

Tamahome: But we already have everything else in place!

Akane: How are we going to get those end tables switched. We can’t have that much time left.

Takeshi: Look, let’s just move the coffee table and the sofa.

Mitsune: We can always move it back!

(Takeshi and Mitsune move the coffee table while Motoko moves the sofa. Slowly, everybody helps make the switch between the two end-tables. Ruki gets the tablecloth and lamp on the circular one.)

Akane: Where’s Washu anyway?

(In the other room, Jenrya and Washu are watching.)

Jenrya: What are they doing?

Washu: I don’t know. I’ll just leave them to their best judgment.

Jenrya: Yeah.

(Back in the dark room, Akane and Takeshi are moving the coffee table back into place.)

Akane: Wasn’t there something on this table?

Takeshi: Um… I think there were some books on it.

Akane: Where are they?

Takeshi: Hey! Has anybody seen some books lying around?!

(Mitsune enters with the books.)

Mitsune: Found them!

Akane: Where were they?

Mitsune: TV cabinet.

Kasumi: Okay, let’s get into our seats!

(They all do so. In the other room, Jenrya and Washu look at the screen.)

Washu: Looks like it’s time.

Jenrya: Yep…

(Both stand up and start to walk out.)

Jenrya: Wait a sec…

(Washu stops.)

Jenrya: What are those…

Washu: I don’t know, we don’t have much time left.

(Jenrya points to the screen, and a few objects lying on the floor.)

Washu: I think they’re coasters.

Jenrya: I’m on it.

(Jenrya picks up the mike.)

Washu: Hold on, we only have a couple minutes. Let’s do this ourselves.

Jenrya: Hey! There’s a couple coasters you forgot!

Washu: Jenny… the clock.

Jenrya: Oh, uh… they’re um… by Akane…

(Inside, Akane’s confused.)

Akane: Which direction?

Takeshi: He can’t hear you.

(Akane slowly searches on the floor, and finds the coasters.)

Jenrya: (VO) They go on the… uh…

Washu: (VO) End table!

(Akane hands them off to Takeshi, who quickly puts them on the end-table next to him. After a couple seconds, Washu and Jenrya enter the room. They both stumble for a bit, their eyes not used to the dark.)

Jenrya: Tamahome? Where are you?

Tamahome: Over here.

Takeshi: We’re over here Washu!

(Jenrya and Washu sit down.)

Kasumi: Wait- Washu’s on the end.

(Takeshi and Washu switch places, and just in the neck of time, as the overhead lights come on.)

Kenji: Aw jeez… give us a warning first!

(Barb enters the room and does a quick survey.)

Barb: Everybody’s in place, the furniture looks reasonable enough… and the lamps, books, coasters, tablecloth, TV and videos are in place- congratulations team, 30,000 yen is added to the pot.

(Applause all around, as everybody congratulates themselves for a job well done. Caption- "Challenge Completed")

Takeshi: There was so much the Mole could have done in this game. And I’m sure the Mole tried. Under cover of darkness it’s so easy to get away with something. But the team prevailed in the end, and that’s all that matters. I bet the Mole’s really frustrated after this one.

(Shot of the team eating dinner. They are in a very good mood.)

Jenrya: (VO) We needed a game like that to really motivate everybody. A nice clean win where everybody worked together. No exemptions to worry about, just ten people on one side. Obviously I noticed a lot of suspicious activity, and I’ll analyze that later. For now- savor the victory.

Day Eleven
(The group is now eating breakfast with Mike when Barb enters the room with the voting jar. She is accompanied by two guys who both look about twenty. One has long, light brown hair and large glasses, while the other has dark brown hair and very small glasses.)

Barb: In case you forgot, yesterday you were asked to vote for one guy and one girl that you think deserve to be spoiled. I’m going to tally those votes now. As you probably figured out, the winner in each gender will get to be spoiled. They get to head to Venice with me and these two gentleman. They are…

(The one with the light brown hair bumps her away and flashes a peace sign to the group.)
Shirai: Shirai Kimiaki!!

(The one with the dark brown hair follows suit.)
Haitaini: Haitani Masayuki!!

Barb: Yes… they are two of Keitaro’s friends from Love Hina and are just here to have a good time with you. Or if Motoko wins, make your life a living hell. Let’s tally the votes and see who gets the prize.

(One by one, Barb reads the votes off.)

Barb: Tamahome and Kasumi… Jenrya and Akane… Tamahome and Washu… Takeshi and Akane… Tamahome and Kitsune… Kenji and Motoko… Jenrya and Kitsune… Kenji and Washu… Jenrya and Kasumi… one vote left. Mike, where are we?

Mike: By my count, Jenrya and Tamahome are tied with three for the guys, and Akane and Kasumi are tied at two for the girls.

Barb: Okay… the final vote is… Akane and Tamahome. Congratulations.

(The rest of the group politely applauds as Akane and Tamahome stand up.)

Barb: Just to make sure that you two concentrate on having fun and being spoiled, please hand me your journals for safekeeping. You’ll get them back after the trip.

(Akane and Tamahome do so.)

Barb: Also, please try to remember what goes on today. At the end, I will be asking one small question about a particular detail from today’s excursion. Shall we?

(Akane and Tamahome head out with Shirai and Haitani.)

Akane: (to Shirai) What were your names again?

(Same routine as before. This time, their names appear on the screen as subtitles.)

Shirai: Shirai Kimiaki!!

Haitani: Haitani Masayuki!!

(Tamahome sweatdrops.)

Tamahome: Great. I see you’re excited.

Shirai: You bet! Mole 2 cameo baby!!

Haitani: Talk about exposure!

(Shirai and Haitani high-five and the five walk out.)

Mike: As for the rest of you…

Everybody: We know…

Challenge Nine
(The base of a hill. Mike pulls up in a van and the eight players get out, dressed in running clothes.)

Mike: As you can tell by the way you’re dressed… it’s another cosplay challenge!

Ruki: Don’t even joke.

Mike: Sorry… you will be running up this mountain, along a ten-mile stretch of road. This is a relay-style run, where one person runs for as long as they can, and passes off to the next person when they run out of juice. Each person can only run once, and the eight of you must collectively cover the ten miles in 100 minutes. Everybody not running will follow the runner in the van, and if the team wins, 20,000 yen is added to the pot. I’m warning you now, we’re running uphill, which gets steeper as we go on.

(The group huddles up to work out a strategy.)

(Inside a limousine, Akane, Tamahome, Shirai, Haitani, and Barb are living it up.)
Akane: This is great! There’s always an advantage to being well-liked in the group.

Tamahome: I didn’t know I was well-liked in the group, but so be it!

Shirai: You two are well-liked? Wow…

Haitani: What’s that like?

Tamahome: You two aren’t popular?

(Shirai and Haitani collectively sigh.)

Haitani: Most people don’t even remember our names.

Tamahome: Oh… um… what were they again?

Shirai: Shirai!!

Haitani: Haitani!!

(At the starting line, Kasumi is ready to run. Mike gives her the signal, and she takes off, to the encouragement of the others.)
Mike: (VO) Kasumi is the first to start and will hopefully get as far as she can.

(Montage of Kasumi running, she seems to be going at a pretty good pace.)
Mike: (VO) Since the road gets steeper later, the aim is to cover as much distance now. She certainly does, so that by the time she tags in the next person, she manages a mile and a half.

(Kasumi, visibly tired, tags in Ruki. Ruki jumps out of the van and starts running. Kasumi gets back in the van and gets a drink of water from a cooler inside. Caption: "1.5 Miles Traveled, 87:44 Remaining")

Takeshi: Good work Kasumi!

Kenji: Yeah! At that pace, this is as good as won.

(Akane and Tamahome are on a bridge, overlooking one of the canals in Venice. Shirai and Haitani are mugging for the camera.)
Tamahome: (VO) In terms of the game, this is a perfect opportunity for Akane and I to talk strategy, with nobody noticing but those two weirdoes we’re stuck with. But the more the day goes by… we just aren’t in the mood. What can I say, this is fun.

(Ruki is practically exhausted, but still fighting, and the van is next to her. Jenrya is waiting for a tag. Caption: "2.9 Miles Traveled, 76:04 Remaining.")

Jenrya: Ruki, you ready?

Ruki: No… I want to get a bit further.

Jenrya: You’re tired, tag me in!

Ruki: I want to go as far as Kasumi did.

Jenrya: Dammit Ruki, you’re slowing us down!

(Ruki shakes her head, and tags Jenrya in. She seems bitter as she gets in the van.)

Motoko: (politely) Good work.

Ruki: I just wanted to get that extra half-mile too.

Kasumi: That’s fine… we aren’t arguing.

Kenji: We’re still making good time.

(Ruki sits down.)

(Shot of Jenrya running. He tires quickly and makes a tag to Washu. Caption: "3.9 Miles Traveled, 66:55 Remaining.")
Mitsune: (VO) Ruki definitely sticks out like a sore thumb in the group. She’s the lone wolf of the team, and does things her way. Suspicious? Definitely. Mole? Definitely not. As I said, she stands out in the group, which is exactly what the Mole should avoid.

(Kenji is waiting for a tag from a quickly tiring Washu. Caption: 4.9 Miles Traveled, 56:11 Remaining")

Mitsune: Washu! You ready?

Washu: Yeah…

(Washu tags in Kenji.)

Washu: How’d I do?

Kasumi: I don’t know. I think we’re about halfway.

Motoko: Time isn’t a problem. We’re running out of people.

Takeshi: What is it? Four people left and five miles.

Ruki: I could have gone further… but come on, one mile in eleven minutes?

Washu: Hey, I may be able to accelerate particles, but I can’t accelerate my legs… well… not legally at least.

(Down the road, Kenji is really tiring, and progressing slowly.)

Mitsune: He needs a tag.

Takeshi: No he doesn’t, we need distance. Time’s not an issue.

Washu: At the rate he’s going it will be.

Mitsune: Look, he’s not getting anywhere. We have forty minutes to get three and a half miles uphill.

Jenrya: Let him get a little farther.

Mitsune: No… hey Kenji. Give it up!

(Kenji sees who’d receive the tag, and keeps jogging slowly.)

Kenji: I’m uh… just getting a second win.

Mitsune: Come on!

(Kenji sighs and tags in Mitsune. Caption: "6.4 Miles Traveled, 39:30 Remaining.")

(Meanwhile, in Venice, Akane and Tamahome are walking through the streets. Shirai and Haitani are lagging behind.)

Akane: This has been great so far.

Tamahome: Yeah… if only we could get rid of those two.

(Behind them…)

Shirai: So, think we have a chance with her?

Haitani: I don’t know… if only we weren’t pressed to make such an on-the-spot decision.

(Akane and Tamahome face forward after looking back at them.)

Akane: What do you think the question is?

Tamahome: No idea…

Akane: Let’s ask those two…

(Akane turns around.)

Akane: You two! Do you know what the question is?

Haitani: We don’t know.

Shirai: We were wondering ourselves.

Akane: Oh… well thanks anyway… um… oh shoot…

Shirai: Shirai.

Haitani: Haitani.

Akane/Tamahome: Thank you.

(The road is obviously getting steeper, and Mitsune is struggling. She tags in Takeshi. Caption: "7.4 Miles Traveled, 28:23 Remaining")
Mike: (VO) With the team well up the hill, it takes longer to run and uses up more energy. With less than half an hour, Takeshi and Motoko must combine for over two and a half miles.

(Later, Takeshi’s struggling.)

Takeshi: Motoko! I need a tag!

Motoko: Can’t you go farther?

Takeshi: I don’t think so.

(Takeshi tags Motoko. Caption: "8.6 Miles Traveled, 14:49 Remaining")
Mike: (VO) While Motoko is one of the most athletic members of the team, the task is still daunting.

(Shot of Motoko running. Insert dramatic music, as she nears the finish line. Motoko seems to conserve energy well, and manages just enough to get herself across the finish line with less than a minute left. Caption- "Challenge Completed." Motoko is visibly tired, but the others exit the van to congratulate her.)

Kenji: Great work Motoko!

Takeshi: Yeah, you saved our hides today!

Jenrya: Good job.

Motoko: Thank you.

(They continue to congratulate her.)
Kasumi: (VO) It’s only natural that the last person to run gets the big credit. I mean, I went farther than she did, and took less time, but I get ignored in the end because I went first. It’s no big deal… she still did good.

Mike: Congratulations, 20,000 yen is added to the pot. And right now- you have the opportunity to gamble it away. As we said before, Akane and Tamahome will be given one question based on their trip. Your job is to place a bet on whether or not one or both of them will answer correctly. You can gamble all twenty grand, which will double if they both get the question right, or be lost if one answers wrong. You can gamble 10,000 saying that at least one of them will answer right. Or, of course, you can elect to play it safe and gamble nothing. The question could be easy, hard, or in-between… it’s up to you to figure out what to gamble.

Mitsune: Let’s go for all of it!

Takeshi: No.

Mitsune: Why not?

Takeshi: I don’t trust Tamahome. I don’t think he’d answer correctly.

Jenrya: Well, how about half then?

Motoko: No.

(Everybody looks at Motoko.)

Motoko: I worked for this money. I put too much of an effort into this to let it all go.

Jenrya: Well sure, we all did, but…

Takeshi: I agree with Motoko. We all worked too hard to lose this money.

Mitsune: But come on… we can double it!

Kenji: Here’s the way I see it- Takeshi and Motoko are agreeing for once. That’s gotta be a sign.

Washu: Motoko did save our butts, I think it should be her call.

Takeshi: Are we okay with that then?

(general agreement)

Mike: Okay then. The money is secure, and we can head back and see how they did.

(They go back into the van.)
Kenji: (VO) So far, we really earned our money this round. Some people really stepped up, and it’s been very useful in figuring out who I think the Mole is.

(Back at the hotel, Akane, Tamahome, Shirai, Haitani, and Barb arrive in the lounge. Akane and Tamahome are handed sketchpads.)

Barb: Okay… obviously you two had a wonderful time. But as I warned you beforehand, there is a question which you two will need to answer. Write it down on your pad, and wait until I tell you to show it. The question is… What are the names of the two Love Hina characters that accompanied you on the trip?

(Barb shakes her head.)

Barb: Ouch… tough one.

(Akane and Tamahome both give it heavy thought. Shirai and Haitani high-five.)

Haitani: Whoa… we’re a trivia question too!

Shirai: We’ve hit the big time!!

Barb: Ready?

(Akane and Tamahome nervously turn their pads over. Amazingly enough, both have provided the correct answers of Shirai and Haitani.)

Barb: Let me check… wow. You got it. Good work!

Shirai: Yes! They remembered our names!

Haitani: I think they like us!

Akane: (to Haitani) Don’t push your luck… um… (checks paper) Shirai.

Haitani: I’m Haitani.

Tamahome: So what do we get?

(Mike and the other eight have quietly entered the lounge.)

Mike: Absolutely nothing! The others had a challenge, won, and decided not to risk the money earned on you two. So uh…

Mitsune: Let’s eat!

(Agreement, as everybody except Shirai and Haitani leave for the dining room.)

Barb: You two can let yourselves out.

(Barb leaves. Shirai and Haitani are all alone. They high-five again.)

Shirai: That went very well.

Haitani: Definitely. I told you these cameos lead to instant fame.

(They both walk out, satisfied.)

Akane: It’s a bit of a downer. We basically had no purpose in that game. We could have doubled the pot for the group but they didn’t trust us enough. I mean, sure, the question was really hard, but we answered it. I feel bad because we couldn’t help out.

Day Twelve
(A hot springs behind the hotel. Barb leads the ten back there.)
Barb: In the last two days, we’ve had two challenges where you all had to put a serious group effort into winning. And much to our surprise, you won them both. We’re going to put an end to that right now, with a little game based almost entirely on luck. The challenge is to manipulate the odds in your favor. First off, I need the group to pick one person whom you wouldn’t mind receive an exemption.

(After a brief discussion, they settle on Motoko, due to her effort in the previous game.)

Barb: Alrighty then- I’d like to show you our hot springs. And as you Love Hina reps know, you can’t have a hot springs… without a hot springs turtle. For that, we have Mutsumi Otohime.

(Another Love Hina character, the brown haired, empty-headed Mutsumi enters. She looks almost stoned.)

Barb: Yesterday we had cameos with names we couldn’t remember. Mutsumi herself can’t even remember her own name half the time. Right?

(Barb turns around, only to see that Takeshi is putting his moves on yet again.)

Mutsumi: (listening to Takeshi) Oh…

(Mutsumi falls asleep in Takeshi’s arms. He can’t support the weight, and starts to fall. Fortunately, a combined kick from Motoko and Kasumi handles the situation, and he rejoins the group. Barb wakes Mutsumi up.)

Mutsumi: What happened?

Barb: You fell asleep.

Mutsumi: Oh… I did it again…

Barb: Read your lines.

Mutsumi: The hot springs are being stocked with hot springs turtles. Ten of them…

(Mutsumi starts to drift off again.)

Barb: I’ll finish for her, we have an execution tonight. The hot springs has been stocked with ten hot springs tamago… or several Tama-chan as the Hinata residents call them.

(On command, ten small turtles pop out of the water, swimming around playfully. Barb fishes one out with a net and holds it out. It has a red mark on its belly. It waves to the group.)

Tama-chan: Myu!

Barb: Six of the Tama-chan have a red mark on their bellies. Four of them have blue marks. One at a time, you will take the net and fish out a turtle. Your job is to make sure that when Motoko comes up, she gets a blue-marked turtle. If she does, money is added to the pot. If she gets a red one, exemption city for Miss Aoyama. The money added to the pot depends on when she goes. If she goes first, 10,000 yen is added, but for every time she has to wait, 1,000 is deducted. Who’s up first?

(the group congregates to discuss the plan)

Mitsune: I say have her go first. If we wait too long, there won’t be anything left to win.

Kasumi: Let’s just wait and see how everybody does.

Washu: It’s a forty percent chance success rate right now. Let’s get it a little lower.

Akane: I’ll go first.

(Akane steps up with the net and fishes out a Tama-chan. Before she can take it by hand, it flies up and lands on her shoulder.)

Tama-chan: Myu!

(Akane checks it. It has a red belly.)

Washu: Okay… forty-five percent.

Kenji: We should get it a little higher.

(Kenji goes up and fishes out a red-bellied turtle.)

Takeshi: We should get it better than 50-50, I think.

(Ruki fishes out a red-bellied Tama-chan.)

Mitsune: Now?

Jenrya: I say let her go now.

Kenji: 4-3 still isn’t that great. I think one more should do it.

Mitsune: (angry) Fine…

(Mitsune fishes one out. It too has a red-belly.)

Kenji: Told you! Now I think it’s safe.

Tamahome: Two out of three chance? Works for me. Do it Motoko.

(Motoko gets up and takes the net. She appears very nervous around the turtles. One "myu's" at her and she jumps back and screams.)

Motoko: (to herself, scared to death) They had to pick turtles…

(Motoko closes her eyes and fishes one out. She opens her eyes. Tama-chan is not in the net. She looks around.)

Tama-chan: (OS) Myu!

(Tama-chan has perched itself on her head. She frantically shakes it off. It flies towards the girls of the group. Ruki catches it and looks at its belly.)

Ruki: Blue.

Kenji: Told ya!

(Look of approval from the group. Caption: "Challenge Completed- Win ¥6,000")

Washu: That was just a nice little diversion. I don’t know if the Mole can do much in that game. I would suspect that a low money challenge isn’t worth the Mole’s time, and the best bet would be to just shut up and let nature take its course.

Ruki: The Mole’s only weapon in that game is just pure suggestive selling. Trying to convince people to make a mistake. It’s very subtle, but when used properly, it can be very powerful.

(At dinner, Barb raises a glass.)
Barb: Well, it seems that the team is finally starting to get its act together. Three games in this round, and three successes. Not counting all those gimmee games back when you were on the Moon, this is the highest scoring round so far. You’ve earned 56,000 yen, bringing the total pot up to 157,000 yen out of a possible 365,000. Tonight, another quiz, and the fifth execution. Hopefully these successes haven’t thrown you away from the fact that there is still a traitor amongst us.

Mitsune: I’ll toast to that.

(Shot of Akane taking the quiz. Her question is "Was the Mole a guide in the Dark Room game?")
Akane: (VO) In the dark room game, Jenrya and Washu both had these long periods of silence. Like they expected us to know what we were doing. Between all that went on, I’m really surprised we won that with those two leading us.

(Shot of Kenji taking the quiz. His question is "What color is the Mole’s hair?")
Kenji: (VO) Kitsune was very irresponsible with our winnings in this game. She was willing to throw the twenty thousand away in hopes that Akane and Tamahome would win the money. And she actually wanted Motoko to go first in the Tama-chan game. I can’t believe what she’s trying to do to the group.

(Shot of Tamahome taking the quiz. His question is "Who was the Mole’s roommate this round?")
Tamahome: (VO) As far as I’m concerned, Motoko could still be the Mole. She may have helped the others with the running, but she did very little in the dark room game, and didn’t even want to bet a little on me and Akane with that question about… um… whoever those two were.

(Shot of Jenrya taking the quiz. His question is "In what position did the Mole run?")
Jenrya: (VO) Right now, I’m playing it safe. During the dark room game, Takeshi make the most mistakes. Combined with other things, I think there’s a strong chance that he’s the Mole. But I can’t ignore Ruki any longer. I’m watching her. She’s done enough to warrant it… and if I don’t start considering her as a serious possibility, I could be out of here really fast.

(Just an old fashioned execution. Barb is in front with the computer.)
Barb: For the first time in the game, nobody has an exemption. All ten players are at risk, except of course for the Mole. I’ll enter the names one at a time in random order. If a red fingerprint appears, you are the Mole’s fifth victim.

(Barb sits down at the computer.)
Barb: I’ll start with Mitsune.
(Barb types "MITSUNE" into the computer. Mitsune is confident.)

(It flashes green. Mitsune smiles and nods.)

Barb: Akane.
(Barb types "AKANE" into the computer. Akane is nervous.)

(It flashes green.)

Barb: Kenji.
(Barb types "KENJI" into the computer. Kenji is slightly nervous.)

(It flashes green.)

Barb: Tamahome.
(Barb types "TAMAHOME" into the computer. Tamahome is nervous.)

(It flashes green.)

Barb: Ruki.
(Barb types "RUKI" into the computer. Ruki has a straight face.)

(It flashes green.)

Barb: Motoko.
(Barb types "MOTOKO" into the computer. Motoko is a bit nervous.)

(It flashes green.)

Barb: We’re running out of people… Kasumi.
(Barb types "KASUMI" into the computer. Kasumi is nervous.)

(It flashes red.)

Akane: Aw…

(Kasumi sighs audibly and stands up to get her bag. Kenji looks somewhat sad.)

Barb: Ready?

(Kasumi nods and they walk out.)
Kasumi: (VO) Well, so much for Kenji saying I was worth keeping around. I don’t know if he was playing me for a fool, or whether he meant it when he said he wanted me here. Either way, he said that everybody’s responsible for themselves, and he was right. No matter if I was a victim of a backstab, or the Mole just got the better of me… it’s my own loss. I guess that’s all there is to it.

(Meanwhile, back among the living, Akane seems rather whimsical.)

Akane: I feel kind of bad. She was one of the nicer ones. She was almost like a sister to me… and that wasn’t because of her name.

Takeshi: So many of us have a competitive streak going, but Kasumi at least managed to keep a pleasant face throughout the game. I know personally that she really tried to win, but it didn’t stop her from having a good time. And you have to admire that.

Washu: Hey… I voted for her to get spoiled, and I still stand by that decision.

(Outside, Barb leads Kasumi into the van.)

Barb: You played great. Seriously… unlike the last few I mean it this time.

Kasumi: Thanks. See you around.

(The van drives off into the night. Victim Number Five!)

End Episode Five

Author’s Notes
I don’t know if it’s the new challenges or whatnot, but this episode was more geared towards challenges than inside dirt. Hopefully, the stuff in the beginning helped tide you over for now. Next episode will have some more inside game strategies… although episode six has some particularly flashy challenges too!

For those Fushigi Yuugi fans who also have a passive interest in reality television- considering how much attention is given to each of the aspects of the character, the whole Survivor/Mole/Big Brother thing is a tad strange, nee? Also for you Fushigi Yuugi fans who are wondering… I will try to get an FY cameo one of these eps. It’s hard to find something that works. Bear with me, as it’s Gundam and another Ranma cameo next time.

Speaking of Survivor, there’s a very interesting Survivor-style challenge next time that has been used in quite a few different Moles. Of course, none of them had a tribal council. Also… none of them took place in the Digital World. That’s right… imagine the ABC version doing that! In case Survivor or Digimon ain’t your style- there’s giant robots too! Everything’s going anime next time! And I’ll give you lots of fan service!